Dave & Gloria's Story Part 2: Everyday Discipleship
Encouragements from Redeemer Dubai
Kevin & Leslie Cathey and Justin in Dubai
Read Part 1 of this story here.
Back in August 2011, Justin met Dave Furman as part of a church planter’s residency. When he heard Dave’s vision of planting churches to advance the gospel in the Middle East, he wanted Garden City to be part of it! Our church was still six weeks away from launching and had very little money, but we immediately started a partnership with Redeemer Dubai, giving them 5% of the budget. Ever since we have been sister churches. Yet our partnership with Dave and Gloria goes beyond financial support.
In 2013, my husband Kevin and I had the opportunity to travel to Dubai with Justin. We got to meet Dave and Gloria, learn about their church, and spend time with our brothers and sisters. As we met with their church body, we caught a glimpse of heaven. Just as Revelation 7 describes a great multitude from every nation worshiping him, we worshiped with brothers and sisters from over 70 different nationalities. Yet in the midst of such diversity, their unity in Christ shone brightly. Jesus alone has the power to transform people from such different backgrounds and bring them together into one family.
How does God bring together such a diverse family? It is through discipleship. When we asked Dave and Gloria how they approached discipleship, Dave’s reply was simple: “We share life, read the Bible, and pray together.” It’s easy for me to overcomplicate discipleship, thinking there’s some magic formula to follow. Yet for Dave and Gloria, discipleship flows naturally in all they do whether they are with believers or non-believers.
What does this type of discipleship look like in their everyday life? While riding in taxis across the city, Dave asks the driver about his work and family. By the time he reaches the destination, he has shared the gospel and invites the driver to church. Gloria spends her days asking the Lord who He wants her to pursue that day. As she walks to school, waits for pick-up, connects with friends at a coffee shop, or does her grocery shopping, she is constantly sharing the good news with those she meets. She regularly shares with her friends what she read in her Bible that morning and prays with them about whatever challenges they are facing in their lives. When we were visiting, she and her youngest son would even go to the mall while the older kids were at school simply to strike up conversations with the store workers and open doors to gospel conversations.
In this faithful ministry, God uses Dave and Gloria’s intentionality to transform lives and build a community of disciple-makers within their church. We can use the same discipleship practices of sharing life, God’s word, and prayer with our friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Even in the midst of shelter-in-place, who may God be calling you to reach out to today? How might God use a text or phone call as a discipleship opportunity?